The Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”

Post statehood Post WW1 – Allies had won, but now moving into the roaring ‘20’s and Great Depression Extremely hard economic times ENTIRE country was in horrible financial situation. Farmers were leaving Oklahoma and heading west to California to try and survive.

Brother can you spare a dime? They used to tell me I was building a dream, so I followed the mob, When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always right there on the job, They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead, Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread? Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time. Once I built a railroad; now it’s done. Brother, can you spare a dime? Once I built a tower, up to the sun, brick and rivet and lime; Once I built a tower, now it’s done. Brother, can yo uspare a dime? Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell, Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum, Half a million boots went slogging through Hell, And I was the kid with the drum! Say, don’t you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time. Why don’t you remember, I’m your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime? Say, don’t you rememeber, they called me Al; it was Al all the time. Why don’t you rememeber, I’m your pal? Buddy can you spare a dime?

Results of the hard times Instant millionaires created by the stock market, but when it crashed, they were reduced to selling apples on the street Many would commit suicide- Leave a gas stove on and take a nap Shoot themselves Jump from the upper floor of Plaza Hotel in NY Some had heart attacks while watching stock prices drop

Dust bowl didn’t help the situation No rain + no crops = nothing to sell for money Many farmers packed up and headed west to California “Okemah was one of the singiest, square dancingest, drinkingest, yellingest, preachingest, walkingest, talkingest, laughingest, cryingest, shootingest, fist-fightingest, bleedingest, gamblingest, gun, club and razor carryingest of our ranch towns and farm towns, because it blossomed out into one of our first Oil Boom Towns.” Woody Guthrie

It was a feeling of listlessness, hopelessness and depression It was a feeling of listlessness, hopelessness and depression. People were tired of shoveling, cleaning and breathing and eating dust. They were tired of sand in their teeth, of cracked lips, of skin that was constantly grimy. Corner drugstores could barely keep up with the demand for sleeping pills to help the exhausted sleep through the dust that swirled even after the sun set. The dust seeped into their homes and their lives, crushing the social fabric of small farming communities. The functions that connected these families – charity and church meetings, 4-H clubs, women’s groups – barely held together. People were too afraid to go out. And in the time the aggravation of dry soil became something much more serious. People died of dust pneumonia; after a bad storm they might vomit clumps of mud. And everyone had stories of friends getting lost in a “black roller” and sometimes being found unconscious in their own yards. Physical misery and the lack of supportive social networks stretched the nerves to the limit. As one Oklahoma farmer put it, as he considered using his shotgun on himself and his family, “We’re all better off dead.”